Archive: Christmas Gifts

From the Momfilter Archives Dear Husband, You are a wonderful man in so many ways—a loyal companion, a strong and loving father, a hard worker and provider—and for that I am grateful. But I can no longer make excuses for you in one area: Christmas gifts. I understand that you are busy. I, too, am […]

From the Momfilter Archives Every holiday season I have gift and creativity amnesia–I am so overwhelmed with how much I have to get done, and how much time I have wasted, that I can’t come up with a single clever idea for gift giving, and end up buying everything, spending too much money, often on […]

I was in Paris last week for work, and was invited to some friends’ house for dinner. When dessert came out, our friends said it was time to play their favorite card game “Truth or Dare”, which is a very thoughtful grown-up version of the game we all know. Questions like “Who are you? “Do you ever […]

As a younger mother I imagined quality time with my daughters. We’d be traipsing over a bridge shouting at gulls, smelling the sea air, picking fresh berries, singing Joni Mitchell…such beautiful ideas, but I was working full time building an artisan food business. I was energized by that, but it was also exhausting and a […]

A God’s Eye is made from sticks and raffia and my mala-inspired ornament is made from raffia and wood craft beads. To make the God’s Eye you will need two small sticks of equal length and long strands of raffia (sold by the bag at Michaels). Tie the two sticks together at their centers. Wrap […]

We are huge fans of photographer Georgia Kokolis, so when she told us she had started making Shaker gift baskets with local upstate and Berkshire products, we got excited. She started the business Lebanon Springs Vintage with a friend she had met through their kids’ school–they both had a passion for their local producers, and […]

I moved across the street from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens a few years ago and I love wandering the gardens with my boys and then stopping at the gift shop. It has become my hidden spot for last minute kid and adult gifts. The toy selection is well curated and always with a nature or […]

In the December issue of Martha Stewart Living, food editor Lucinda Scala Quinn gives her lineup of favorite cookbooks from the last year. Her requirements? “Given my limited shelf space, I only keep books that answer three important questions: Did the recipes work? Is the food delicious? And did I learn something? Of the dozens of […]

I’m pretty much a fan of everything Katherine and Greg Turpan do in and out of their perfectly edited housewares store, Turpan, in East Hampton. Their minimalist wrapping (pictured here) is reason enough to buy every present from Turpan. It made me think that, while I will likely not make canvas sacks to accommodate my […]